Kachin News Group / BNI Online | August 2, 2018

The Border Guard Force (BGF) beat up two youth pastors with the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) in Sadon area, Kachin State on Monday (July 31) after the pastors tried to negotiate with the BGF not to destroy the homes of local residents while they were clearing the drains.

The BGF beat and detained Mading Zaidan Bawm Ying, a pastor and a youth coordinator with Waingmaw Township KBC and hit his wife on Monday afternoon.

Soldiers from the BFG also punched Lagyi Naw Awn, a KBC pastor from Sadon area.

Mading Zaidan Bawm Ying’s wife, who witnessed the incident, said a group of fully-armed soldiers from the BGF was forcibly destroying the fences while they were working on the drains in the village without the government’s survey department and the municipal. When Mading Zaidan Bawm Ying tried to negotiate with them not to do it at his home, the BGF commander punched him and the soldiers beat him with the rifle butts, making him throw up blood.

“All of them were fully armed. I came out and told them not to beat him. I was dragged and punched twice in my jaw. They also punched Christian pastor Lagyi Naw Awn from Sadon area, who came to settle the issue. They beat him with rifle butt. Two soldiers held my husband against the wall and their leader punched him wholeheartedly. I saw him vomiting blood,” she said.

He was taken to their base after he was beaten.

Zaidan Bawm Ying was released on bail on August 1 after the officials from Waingmaw Township KBC and BGF officials met in Sadon to discuss his release.

He said he will seek medical treatment in Myitkyina for his injuries.